What Is a Paytable?
A paytable is a set of screens inside the game that explains how it works. Depending on the game, it is labelled as the paytable, game info, help, rules or information. It usually covers:
- The value of each symbol
- How winning combinations are formed
- What special symbols do
- How bonus features are triggered and played
- The full game rules, including maximum wins and the RTP
On online slots, it is usually found behind an "i", "?" or menu icon. On venue pokies, it is usually reached through a help or information button on the screen.
Step 1: Check How Wins Are Shown
Before looking at individual symbols, check how the paytable expresses prizes. Different games use different formats:
- Cash amounts based on your current bet. These often update automatically when you change your stake.
- Multiples of your total bet, such as 2x or 50x.
- Credits or coins, which you need to convert using the credit value shown on the screen.
- Per-line amounts, in some payline games, where the prize applies to the bet on a single line rather than your total bet.
Example: You bet $1 per spin, and the paytable shows that five of the top symbol pays 5x your total bet. Landing that combination pays $5. If the paytable instead showed the prize as 5x the line bet on a 20-line game, the same combination would pay 5 × $0.05 = $0.25.
Getting this step right is important, because the same number can mean very different amounts depending on the format.
Step 2: Read the Symbol Values
The main part of the paytable lists each symbol and what it pays for three, four or five matching symbols (or more on larger grids).
- Low-paying symbols are often card ranks such as A, K, Q, J and 10, or simple shapes and colours. They land more often but pay less.
- High-paying symbols usually match the game's theme, such as characters or treasures. They land less often but pay more.
Look at the gap between the lowest and highest values. A large gap, where the top symbol pays far more than the rest, often signals higher volatility. Our guide to slot symbols explains the different types in more detail.
Step 3: Understand the Special Symbols
Next, find the section that explains special symbols. Common examples include:
- Wild symbols: check which symbols they replace (most do not replace scatters), whether they pay on their own and whether they expand, stick or carry multipliers.
- Scatter symbols: check how many are needed to trigger a feature and whether they also pay a prize.
- Bonus or coin symbols: check what they collect or trigger, such as hold-and-win respins or jackpots.
Step 4: Learn How Wins Are Formed
The paytable explains the game's win system. Look for:
- Paylines: diagrams showing the pattern of each line. Wins usually pay from left to right, starting on the first reel.
- Ways to win: an explanation that matching symbols pay on adjacent reels in any position.
- Megaways: information on how reel heights change and how many ways are possible.
- Cluster pays: how many touching symbols are needed to form a win.
Most paytables also explain how multiple wins are combined, such as "only the highest win per line is paid" and "wins on different lines are added together".
Step 5: Read the Bonus Feature Rules
The feature section explains how each bonus works. Check:
- What triggers the feature, such as three or more scatters
- How many free spins or respins are awarded
- Whether the feature can be retriggered
- What special rules apply during the feature, such as multipliers, sticky wilds or extra symbols
- Whether you can buy the feature and how much it costs, if a bonus buy is available
Our guide to slot bonus features explains the most common types.
Step 6: Check the Game Rules and Fine Print
The game rules section is often the last screen and the easiest to skip, but it contains some of the most important information:
- Maximum win: many games cap the total that can be won in a single spin or feature, often shown as a multiple of the stake. When the cap is reached, the feature may end immediately.
- Bet limits: the minimum and maximum stake per spin.
- Malfunction rule: most games state that a malfunction voids all pays and plays.
- Interrupted games: how an unfinished spin or feature is handled if your connection drops.
- Feature-specific rules, such as how jackpots are awarded or whether bet size affects eligibility.
Step 7: Find the RTP
Most online slots state their theoretical return to player (RTP) in the game rules. This is important, because many games are released in more than one RTP version, and each casino chooses which one to offer.
The RTP shown in the game's own rules is the figure for the version you are playing. If it is lower than the figure published by the developer, the casino is offering a lower-RTP version.
Some games also show a separate RTP for the bonus buy feature. Venue pokies do not always display an RTP, but every machine must meet the minimum return set by its state or territory regulator. Read Pokies RTP Explained for more.
A Quick Paytable Checklist
Before you play a new pokie, check:
1. How prizes are shown: cash, multiples of total bet, credits or per line
2. What the top symbol pays compared with the lower symbols
3. What the wild and scatter symbols do
4. Whether the game uses paylines, ways, Megaways or clusters
5. What triggers the main bonus feature
6. The maximum win and bet limits
7. The RTP of the version you are playing
Common Mistakes When Reading Paytables
- Confusing line bet with total bet. A prize shown per line can be much smaller than it looks.
- Assuming the developer's RTP applies. Always check the RTP in the game's own rules.
- Ignoring the maximum win. A capped win can end a feature early.
- Mistaking a small win for a profit. Many wins, especially on ways games, pay less than your stake.
Practise With Demo Games
Free-play demo versions let you open the paytable and watch the features play out without spending money. This is a useful way to get familiar with a game before deciding whether to play it. Our slot game reviews also summarise the key paytable details for each title.
Playing Responsibly
Understanding the paytable helps you set realistic expectations, but it does not change the odds. Every spin is decided by a random number generator, and the house edge applies to every game. Set a budget and time limit before you play.
Our guides on setting gambling limits and recognising gambling harm explain practical steps, and Gambling Help Online offers free, confidential support 24/7 on 1800 858 858.